A KING CITY MOTORIST WAS ARRESTED YESTERDAY, AFTER ONE OF HIS PASSENGERS DIED IN A CRASH . THE 30 YEAR-OLD DRIVER WAS ARRESTED ON SUSPICION OF DRUNKEN DRIVING AND MANSLAUGHTER, AFTER HE RAMMED THE MINIVAN HE WAS DRIVING INTO A POWER POLE. ONE OF HIS PASSENGERS WAS EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE, AND PRONOUNCED DEAD AT THE SCENE. THE DRIVER, AND THE OTHER 2 PASSENGERS, REPORTEDLY RAN FROM THE SCENE, BUT THE DRIVER WAS ARRESTED A SHORT TIME LATER. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED ON A PRIVATE DIRT ROAD, WEST OF METZ ROAD, AROUND 11:40 A.M. YESTERDAY.

THE MAJORITY OF U.S. STRAWBERRY GROWERS ARE IN OUR AREA, AND THEY ARE AMONG THE GROWERS THAT WILL BE ABLE TO USE METHYL BROMIDE FOR AN ADDITIONAL YEAR . AMERICAN TOMATO AND STRAWBERRY FARMERS WERE TOLD THEY MUST STOP THE USE OF THE PESTICIDE BY 2005, BUT BECAUSE NO USABLE ALTERNATIVE HAS BEEN DEVELOPED, IT HAS QUALIFIED FOR A "CRITICAL USE" EXEMPTION, UNTIL 2006. 13 OTHER COUNTRIES ALSO APPEALED TO INTERNATIONAL NEGOTIATORS FOR CRITICAL-USE EXEMPTIONS TO THE METHYL BROMIDE GUIDELINES WHICH WERE ADAPTED IN THE MONTREAL PROTOCOL TREATY OF 1987. IN THE LAST 10 YEARS THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE HAS SPENT 150 MILLION DOLLARS ON RESEARCH INTO METHYL BROMIDE SUBSTITUTES.

A FIGHT OVER A SANTA CRUZ HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT ENDED UP WITH A 13 YEAR-OLD GIRL IN CRITICAL CONDITION, AND 2 MORE TEENS ARRESTED AND LODGED INTO SANTA CRUZ COUNTY JUVENILE HALL. THE GIRLS (WHO DO NOT ATTEND SANTA CRUZ HIGH SCHOOL) WERE REPORTEDLY FIGHTING OVER A BOY, WHEN THE STABBING OCCURRED. THE GIRLS THAT ARE NOW IN JUVENILE HALL ARE 13 AND 14 YEARS-OLD.

EACH YEAR SANTA CRUZ COUNTY FAIR ORGANIZERS ASK THE PUBLIC FOR THEME IDEAS. THE THEME IS USED EACH YEAR, TO BUILD THE COUNTY EVENT AROUND. IDEAS ARE WELCOMED UNTIL DECEMBER 10TH , AFTER WHICH TIME THE NEW THEME WILL BE CHOSEN. CONTRIBUTORS ARE ASKED TO DROP OFF THEIR THEME SUGGESTIONS AT THE FAIR OFFICE, AT 2601 EAST LAKE AVENUE, OR CALL 724-5671 FOR MORE INFORMATION.